Boat ladder



July 18, 1961 .1. w. KLAGES 2,992,697

BOAT LADDER Filed July 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

INVENTOR.

JOHN W. KLAGES Y flTTOR/VEXS July 18, 1961 w, KLAGES 2,992,697

BOAT LADDER Filed July 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN W. K LAGES JMMZZZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent C 2,992,697 BOATLADDER John W. Klages, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Columbus AutoParts Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 25,1958, Ser. No. 751,036 3 Claims. (Cl. 182-206) This invention relatesgenerally to ladders and more specifically to boat ladders.

Such a boat ladder is particularly useful to provide convenient and safeaccess to small open vessels or surface craft regardless of whether theentry is attempted from a dock or from the water. Water skiers andboating enthusiasts both will quickly recognize the utility of a boatladder of this type, the former upon his realizing how easy it is toenter a boat from the water and the latter upon his knowing of itsinherently buoyant and safety features.

The boat ladder of the present invention includes a main frame composedof two tubular elements each of which is formed to resemble an oversizedwalking cane. These elements are interconnected with a series of rungsuniformly spaced along the vertical portion of the walking cane, andaccordingly maintain these elements in spaced relationship.

The mngs are preferably made from metallic bar stock and have a smallthreaded portion at each end. Each rung carries a collar at each end,each collar defining a surface against which the tubular elements areurged by conventional threaded fasteners.

Each rung supports a tread disposed directly thereabove and having anopening at each end through which the tubular elements pass to retainthe tread in this position.

The treads have a series of ribs extending outwardly from the uppersurface thereof to improve the coefficient of friction of this surfacewhen subjected to extremely wetted conditions.

, Each tread has a series of webbed sections extending downwardly fromits lower side and forming arcuate surfaces conforming to the peripheralsurface of the mug. Thus, it is seen that the weight of an individualwhen placed upon a tread will be transmitted to the run-g at thesearcuate surfaces.

I A flange extends along the periphery of each tread and serves tostrengthen the tread and improve its rigidity.

Upon inserting a cap at each end of the tubular elements, the boatladder becomes buoyant when assembled since these tubular elements nowcontain a sealed air space.

With this in mind, a primary object of the present invention is theprovision of a boat ladder incorporating safety features to preventphysical harm to an individual while entering a surface craft.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a boatladder incorporating an improved tread to protect the exposed feet ofthe user.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a boatladder which is light in weight and buoyant in water.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a boatladder which is inexpensive to manufacture, may be shipped unassernbled,and subsequently assembled with a minimum of effort.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention isclearly shown.

ice

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the tread of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the tread of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial end view of the tread of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the boat ladder 20 of FIGURE 1includes two spaced side members 22 which are preferably in the form oftubular elements interconnected in spaced relationship by rungs 42.Treads 52 are disposed over each rung 42 and are retained in thisposition by tubular elements 22.

Each side member 22 includes an upper vertically extending portion 24, alower vertically extending portion 7, said portions being substantiallyaxially aligned and joined by a brace of olfset portion indicatedgenerally at 30. Brace portion 30 includes an upper section 5 thatextends inwardly from the bottom of upper vertically extending portion24 and it further includes a lower section 6 that extends outwardly fromthe lower end of upper section 5 to the upper end of lower verticallyextending section 7.

The purpose of the brace or offset portion 30 is to maintain side member22.

Front portion 24 is provided with an offset 30 to maintain front portion24 in a fixed plane away from a surface craft not shown when the boatladder assembly 20 is in operational use. Preferably, the contour ofoffset 30 is U-shaped with its axis of symmetry transversing the axis ofside member 22 and lying in the plane defined by portions 24, 26, and28. Moreover, it is seen in FIG- URE '1 that side member 22 extendscontinuously through offset 30 and enters offset 30* at bends 38A,.

Other configurations of offset 30 are equally applicable.

Rungs 42 are made from metallic bar stock and have threaded ends 44. Acollar 48 is disposed inwardly from each end 44 and is permanentlyattach-ed to rung 42.

Each collar 48 has a surface 50 facing toward each end bers 22 arepassed to retain tread 52 in position above each rung 42. Tread 52 hasan upper surface 54 and a lower surface 58. Extending upwardly fromsurface 54 is a plurality of ribs 56 running parallel to the majordimensions of tread 52. Ribs of other configurations may readily besubstituted and/or integrated into various artistic designs.

Each tread 52 has a plurality of webbed sections or shoulders 62 and 62Aextending transversely and downwardly from surface 58. A webbed section62A, similar to section 62 is provided at each end of tread 52 andtransverses the opening 60.

Each section 62 has ends 64, the extensions of which converge at a pointbelow the center line 66 of rung 42. Joining each end 64 of section 62is an arcuate surface 70 conforming to the peripheral surface of rung42. Thus, it is seen that the application of a force 72, for example theweight of an individual, will be distributed through 3 sections 62 torung 42 by way of confronting surface 70 of' each section 62.

With particular reference to FIGURE 5, section 62A has a portion 80removed to provide for opening 66. Inner side 78 confronts theperipheral surface of side member 22 when inserted in opening 60.Section 62A has ends 74 the extensions of which converge at a pointbelow the center line of rung 42 and intersect the axial projection ofthe center of opening 60.

The annular ring 82 of FIGURE 3 extends downwardly from surface 58, theaxis of ring 82 passing through the center line of'opening 60. Anarcuate segment 76, as shown clearly in FIGURES and 6, is removed toprovide clearance for collar 48. Similarly, an arcuate segment 76 isremoved to provide clearance for fastener 46, as best shown in FIGURE 5.

The reinforcing flange 68 extends along the periphery of tread 52. Theouter surface of flange 68 is a continuation of surfaces 54 and 58 oftread 52. Thus, it is seen that the flange 68 serves to strengthen andstiffen tread 52 to counteract an applied force 72 and any componentsthereof. An arcuate portion 69 of flange 68 is removed at each end oftread 52 to provide clearance for installing fasteners 46.

A sleeve 31 covers the peripheral surface of offset 38 to provideprotection to the finish on the sides of the surface craft when the boatladder 20 is in position for use. Similarly, sleeve 36 is positionedover back portion 28, top portion 26, and the upper end of front portion24 likewise to protect the finish of the surface craft.

Caps 34 are inserted in each end of tubular elements 22. Each cap 34-has an annular surface 35 defined by a tubular guide 33 having anoutside diameter approximately equal to but not greater than the insidediameter of tubular elements 22. Thus, it is seen that side members 22contain a substantially sealed inner air space when caps 34 areinstalled and fasteners 46 are lockingly engaged whereupon the assembledboat ladder 20 of the present invention is buoyant in the water.

The preferred procedure for assemblying the boat ladder 26 includes thefollowing steps: (1) Lay two side members 22 on a flat surface with topportion 26 facing the same general direction; (2) Holding tread 52 withits surface 54 facing top portions 26, insert lower ends of frontportion 24 of side members 22 through opening 66 and advance tread 52 toa position well above apertures 32 which are nearest top portion 26; (3)Grasping lower ends of front portion 24, apply a force in an out wardlydirection; (4) Insert rung 42 in aperture 32 nearest top portion 26; (5)Remove the force applied at lower ends of front portion 24 of sidemembers 22; (6) Engage fasteners 46 loosely to rung 42; (7) Repeat steps2 to 6 until all treads 52 and rungs 42 are subsequently in place; and(8) Advance fasteners 46 to lockingly engage front portions 24 in spacedrelationship.

The installation of sleeve 31 to cover the peripheral surface of offset30 is accordingly made prior to positioning treads 52 located belowoffset 30. Sleeve 36 may be installed over the back and top portions atany time. Caps 34 are installed at each end of tubular elements 22 afterthe boat ladder is assembled.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

I claim:

1. A ladder comprising, in combination, two spaced vertically disposedside members each of which is provided with a plurality of verticallyspaced holes; a plurality of vertically spaced weight supporting rungseach of which includes a central rung portion extending laterallybetween said side members, a first end extendedv through a. hole in oneof said side members and provided with a first outwardly facing shoulderengaging said one side member, and a second end extended through a holein the other of said side members and provided with a second outwardlyfacing shoulder engaging said other side member; and a plurality ofvertically spaced nonrigid treads, each of said treads including acentral tread portion supported on said central rung portion, a firstend including an opening through which one of said side members isextended and a second end through which the other of said side membersis extended.

2. The ladder construction defined in claim 1 wherein each of saidtreads includes a plurality of laterally spacedv downwardly extendedshoulders that engage the central portion of a respective rung.

3. A ladder comprising, in combination, two spaced vertically disposedside members each of which is provided with a plurality of verticallyspaced holes; a plurality of vertically spaced weight supporting rungseach of which includes a central rung portion extending laterallybetween said side members, a first threaded end extended through a holein one of said side members and provided with a first outwardly facingshoulder engaging said one side member, and a second threaded end extended through a hole in the other of said side members and providedwith a second outwardly facing shoulder engaging said other side member;a plurality of vertically spaced non-rigid treads, each of said treadsincluding a central tread portion supported on said central rungportion, a first end including. an openingthrough which one of said sidemembers is extended and a second end through which the other of saidside members is extended; a first threaded element on said firstthreaded end portion for urging said one side member inwardly againstsaid first outwardly facing shoulder; and a second threaded element onsaid second threaded end portion for urging said other of said sidemembers against said second shoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES Sweets Calalog, Architectural File, sections 22-23; sec secs.23K-PA and 23K-SW, (1956 edition).

